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Mixtuur has had the privilege of working with the Cammeraat family. Not only are we very happy about this, we are really proud as well. That is why we are happy to let Mr Cammeraat have his say. We have built a magnificent Maestro IV, a majestic masterpiece with four keyboards. A dream for many an organist. A word from Mr Cammeraat:
How did you come into contact with Mixtuur Orgels?
I knew Mixtuur mainly by name, which you often come across at trade fairs in ‘our’ religious community. Apart from that, of course, I often came across the name on the Dutch Hauptwerk forum (PCOrgan). I once met the first owner of Mixtuur (Bert-Jan de Waard) when we paid an introductory visit to a Mixtuur organ that was located in a church in Goes at the time. When I wanted to find out more about a Mixtuur organ myself, I was introduced to Bert Moll and visited the showroom in the church in Klundert several times with my wife.
Are there any specific aspects of the Mixtuur-Hauptwerk organ that make it unique to you compared to other organs on the market?
Not specifically: every builder of Hauptwerk organs tends to have the same approach. They make beautiful consoles for lovers of Hauptwerk organs and they are good at it; Mixtuur is as good as Noorlander, Goudzwaard, Bovenschen, etc. However, I was amazed at the care Mixtuur takes when assembling the organs. In the factory in Veenendaal I could see how my organ was being built and I was amazed at how well the inside of the organ was cared for. This is of no interest to the average user. People don’t see it anyway. But for me it is a sign of the care Mixtuur takes when building their organs.
How does the Mixtuur-Hauptwerk organ enhance your musical expression and the experience of playing it?
It is a pleasure to play on a beautifully crafted instrument. A feeling of exhilaration that translates into musical expression. Beautiful and great-sounding organs invite and inspire you to make more beautiful music. It’s fantastic to play at home on an organ that makes you feel like you’re behind the console of an organ in a cathedral! The keyboards used for this organ certainly play a part in this; they are so much closer to the playing qualities of a mechanical organ than the standard ‘spring mattresses’ of the average home organ.
Are there any particular features or options on your Maestro IV that you particularly appreciate and that have enriched your musical experience?
Because the organ is already so complete and has been tweaked in a few ways to suit my personal needs, everything works perfectly for me. The use of the electronic stop labels and the automatic stops are a few of those things that make playing this organ so enjoyable. What I also really appreciate is that the organ is all mine. This may sound a bit strange, but a lot of organ builders tend to keep a lot of things shielded from the user. At Mixtuur they understand that I can and want to do a lot on my organ myself, so they are really transparent about how the organ works. Mixtuur’s Bart van Wincoop even wrote a special manual for me on various aspects of the organ. Well done!
Interview continues below photos.
How has the Mixtuur-Hauptwerk organ influenced or developed your playing style since you bought it?
I have owned the organ for too short a time (since 20 November last year) to make a proper assessment. However, it only makes sense that I‘ve been playing a lot more, which inevitably affects the musicality and technical growth that you then gain.
Can you give any examples of specific instances where the Mixtuur-Hauptwerk organ has met or exceeded your expectations?
I can definitely say that Mixtuur has exceeded my expectations with the Maestro IV. It really is so much more than just being satisfied with what I was expecting.
Are there any modifications or personalisations you have had done to your Maestro IV to make it more suited to your needs?
One of the personalisations that has been made is the unique and specific colour for our organ. None of the colour samples available in the showroom suited our interior. None of them were right! In consultation with Bert Moll, we were able to provide a sample that reflected most of the colours in our interior. This was sent to the furniture maker who then produced a sample in a colour that we were 100% (and more!) happy with. It turned out to be that colour, and everyone who sees the organ raves about it. It is also true that this colour makes the organ (which is undoubtedly huge!) seem less colossal. It really comes into its own in our interior.
It was important to me that I could (continue to) use my own Hauptwerk PC, and Mixtuur was very accommodating.
What do you think of the sound of your Maestro IV?
Because the speaker setup with my previous Hauptwerk setup was completely different, I had to get used to the different perspective that the speakers are now sounding from. But after a month I can say that I am really pleased with the sound. The sound really comes into its own with this organ and creates a very realistic experience.
How would you rate the advice/cooperation of Mixtuur Orgels B.V. during the purchase and the service during and after the delivery of your Maestro IV?
From the first welcome in the showroom to the delivery, it’s all been a really enjoyable experience for me. Bert Moll took all the time he needed to advise us during a second and third visit to advise us and clearly did not feel the need to rush us into a purchase. As the organ costs a bit more than the standard package, I was happy to be guided and advised through all the steps that led to the building of our organ. Contact with the factory in Veenendaal and during the delivery to my home also went really well.
I can wholeheartedly recommend a Mixtuur organ to anyone!
